Haralson County commissioners voted Thursday, Aug. 9, to keep millage rates the same as the previous four years.

In a very brief called meeting, commissioners voted to set the county share of the millage at 11.02, while accepting the Haralson County Board of Education’s rate of 16.83 mills. The state’s share of the millage was set at one quarter of a mill.

The total rate for the county would therefore be 28.10 mills, which according to the Georgia Department of Revenue is a rate 1.9 mills below the state average.

All the rates are the same as were set for 2011, according to Chairman Allen Poole. He said that the school board millage rate is the same as the previous past three years; the county millage is the same as for the past four years.

The millage rate is an integral part of calculating property tax values. In Georgia, property tax is calculated by taking 40 percent of the assessed market value of a home (minus any exemptions, such as homestead exemptions) and then multiplying the final figure by the tax millage rate.

A tax rate of one mill represents a tax liability of one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.

For example, if your home is worth $100,000, 40 percent of that is taxable. So, take $40,000, divide it by $1,000, which gives you 40. Multiply this by 28.10 mills, and you get $1,124. If you have exemptions, your total property tax payment would be less.

The commissioners met in the absence of District One Commissioner Eric Robinson; however, Chairman Allen Poole declared a quorum was present, with himself and the remaining three commissioners on hand.

The vote to accept the millage rates was unanimous.

The special called meeting of the commission was the second meeting of the panel in one week. The board met for its regular session on Tuesday.

To find out more about your property tax assessment and taxes, contact the tax assessor’s office at 770-646-2022.